Large Scale Robotic Aquaculture

Charles C. Mann has written a
new Wired
article that offers an intriguing overview of the latest research
into automated, open ocean aquaculture. Robot caretakers would manage
giant, floating fish farms that would drift between continents. This
approach could eliminate problems of previous attempts at large-scale
aquaculture which relied on fixed pens near the shoreline which produced
huge amounts of pollution, lowered the values of shorefront real
estate, and frequently failed due to overcrowding of the fish. For more
information on this new project, visit the University of New Hampshire Open Ocean Aquaculture Project website.

I really think this kind of thing is where useful robotic applications
lie. Basically
the mundane and simple tasks such as monitoring a fish farm, or even
doing pest and weed removal from a conventional land farm (or garden).
It would be nice to see some AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle)
manufacturers move into this kind of realm and away from the highly
specialized and scientific/military area of application.

And when someone can make a $100-200 robot that can patrol my garden and get
slugs, find spots that need water, and pull weeds, it's a deal. And if
it can get dog poop too? Fantastic :^)

I think that a robot that could chase cats out of the yard would be
good. I am tired of people that let the cats loose, digging holes
around the yard, and leaving poop about.
But as soon as your dog escapes out of the house without a leash you
get ten complaints against you.